Leycesteria formosa Golden Lanterns

The Leycesteria formosa ‘Golden Lanterns’ is a shrub with a vertical and bushy growth and a profuse flowering. It possesses all the attributes of the species type, but stands out with its wonderful golden foliage. From July to October, it seduces with its small white flowers borne on long dark red spike bracts. Later, the flowers are replaced by juicy purple berries which are a delight for birds.

The Leycesteria, also known as Pheasant's Tree or Himalayan Honeysuckle, is a bush of the Caprifoliaceae family. Originally from Asia, it owes its name to William Leycester, an English magistrate passionate about botany. It owes its nickname, as one might guess, to its great popularity among pheasants!

The ‘Golden Lanterns’ pheasant's tree is of medium size, and has a bushy habit. Its green branches rigid, hollow, and slightly arched at ripeness, give it an attractive appearance - even in winter when they are devoid of leaves. It has a fast growth, reaching 2m (6 ft 7 in) high by about 1.5m (4 ft 11 in) wide at maturity.

Flowering takes place in late summer and early autumn. The bush is covered with small white flowers surrounded by bracts of a rich and deep purple, giving the bush a somewhat exotic air. Its long and ovate leaves emerge tinted with coppery orange in spring, they become a beautiful chartreuse green during the summer contrasting wonderfully with the purple of the bracts. Its burgundy red fruits are spherical, shiny, they appear following flowering, from August to November. Often, the clusters simultaneously adorn themselves with berries at their base and flowers at their tip.

The Leycesteria is happy in the partial shade or non-burning sun, in all types of soil (preferably fertile and well-drained); robust, it resists diseases, pollution and seaside conditions. Pruning is not obligatory, but a short cutting back of the stems at the end of winter will allow your Leycesteria to start off even better (the flowers appear on the wood of the current year). The foliage colour of ‘Golden Lanterns’ varies according to its exposure to the sun: if the plant is too much in the shade, the foliage will be less bright.

Beware: the berries, although appetising, are quite indigestible ... better to leave them to the birds!

The Leycesteria formosa ‘Golden Lanterns’ will pair wonderfully with plants with purple foliage, such as the Japanese Barberry ‘Harlequin’ or the Sand Plum. It will find its place in a flowering hedge, at the heart of a bush collection or even isolated alongside white or light pink bush roses and Mexican Orange. Cultivation in a pot is also possible, but remember to bring it in during winter as it will be more vulnerable than in open ground.